Rail-joint-coupling device



` Van improvement up f The object of the invention is thegcon- 1 vRAIL-J'olivin-ccertifie` DEVICE.

To allivhom t may cof/wem; Be it known that I, JOHNV BERGER, ing at Catlett, in the county .of Fauquier Vand VState of Virginia, haveinvented `certain new and useful Improvements inIail- Joint-CouplingDevices, of which .thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.J l vThis invention relates to a rail joint coupling device, and more particularly lto onV the structure dis- Smiths. United- States closed in Lyle M.

Patent, No. 1,325,267, relating to'rail jointY 15 coupling devices, issued December 16, 1919.

struction of a vsimple. and an efficient rail joint coupling device, embodying a simple fastening device that can be used in a smaller space means disclosed in said Smiths United I States patent.

With this and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with .the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastening device, showing particularly an elongated slot, for a wedge, in the threaded end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detachable clamping plate of the fastening device.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates an ordinary rail positioned against which are the angle or fish plates 2.

My fastening device comprises a fiat, elongated body 3 that extends through suitable elongated apertures in the fish plates 2 and under the base 4 of the rail 1, Fig. 1. Integral with one end of the body 3 is a clamping plate 5,'that is provided with a depending flange portion 6, extending below the lower face of the body 3, to strengthen the fastening device and give a greater bearing surface against the side ofthe engaged angle or fish plate 2. Integral with the other end of the body 3 is a reduced threaded portion 7 this threaded portion 7 eX- tends through the horizontal aperture 8 of specificati@ of Letters Patent.

.gaging the that the fastening device or Smmrefsar- @esta JOHN HOPKINS.:riannsnnenmor cartnrrzviaemm. yf; 1 7

a smaller space than, a, wedgef13, shown in H ,i Fig. 2.

and threaded onthe threadu rateateasept. 21.51920'. Applicatipntiea-May 25, i920. seriali-Naturali, I f i i i thedetachableclamping plate 9,'andagains't l II. HARNscitizen of the Unitedl States,`resid .ll Each ofthe 51 and i .providedfwlth a prnmary inclined face 14: and with an auxiliary inclined facex15, en-

faces or portions of the angle or sh'plates.

As the nut 1l .orthe wedge 13 is tightened upon the threaded portion 7 of the fastening device, the beveled or inclined faces 14 and 15 ofthe plates 2,v causing 'theI `fi sh` plates Y to, be

ting faces ofthe rail 1, thereby producing a very efficient fastening device for securing the fish plates upon a rail or rails, preferably at a joint orwhere two contiguous ends of rails abut.

It is to be notedgthat the aperture 8 is. formed in the lower portion of the detachable clamping plate 9, and that this plate 9 extends below, at 6.a,the lower face of the body 3 of the fastening device in the saine manner as the depending portion 6 of the Xed clamping plate 5.

The advantage of the double, inner, inclined portions 14: and 15 resides in the fact that even if the fish plates 2 are not at first corresponding. inclined outerV h clamping plates will more `tightly bind against the sides of the sh tight against the sides of therail, these inf clined faces, by the tightening of the nut 11, will ride snugly sh plates, causing the fish plates to be forced in a very tight position against the web and tread of the rail, Fig. 1.

While I have describ d ythe preferred embodiment of my invention, and have-illustrated the same in the accompanying ings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art towhich this invention relates, during theleX- tensive manufacture of the same and I, therefore, Vreserve the right to malze such alterations or changes within the scopeof the appended claims.

vVhatI claim is: 1. In a device of combination with a rail, a pair of fish plates positioned against the rail, of afastening as shall fairly fall against the sides of the drawthe class described, the

device comprising a iatfelongated body, saidl bodyV provided at lone end with a vertical clamping plate and at its otherend with a reduced threaded extension, a detachable clamping plate on said threaded extension, said clamping plates provided with portions extending below the lower face of the flat elongated body and bearing against portions of the fish plates, said plates provided on their inner faces with primary and auxiliaryl beveled portions, said Afish plates provided with4 beveled Yportions on their outer faces engaging the primary and auxiliary beveled'portioiis lof the-plates, and means engaging the reduced threaded extension vof the body for securely clamping the clamping plates upon the fish plates and the fish plates against the rail, substantially as shown and described. Y

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rail, of 'a pair of fish plates engaging said rail, each of said fish plates provided with double beveled outer face portions, a fastening device extending under the rail and through the sides of the fish plates, said fastening device including a fixed and a detachable clamping plate,

said clamping plates provided with doum ble beveled inner faces or portions engaging the similar outer face portions of the fish plates, andmeans on said fastening device for securely clamping the clamping plates against the fish plates.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with ,a rail, a pair of fish plates engaging said rail, of a fastening device lunder the rail and extending through the Vthe fishv plates both above and below the body of the fastening device, substantially as shown raid described. i

ln testimony whereof I hereunto my signature.v

JOHN HOPKINS HARNSBERGER. 

